Sharks MOS5 - 5th Meeting of the Signatories to the Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation of Migratory Sharks

The Fifth Meeting of the Signatories to the CMS Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation of Migratory Sharks (Sharks MOS5) will take place from 10 to 13 May 2027 at the United Nations Campus in Bonn, Germany.

The meeting will be conducted in English, French and Spanish and will be open to Signatories, non-Signatory Range States, relevant intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, and Cooperating Partners.

Key deadlines

• 11 December 2026: Submission of proposals to amend the MOU or its Annexes, including proposals to add species to Annex 1.
• 10 January 2027: Submission of National Reports.
• 9 February 2027: Submission of meeting documents requiring a decision by the Signatories
• 10 February 2027: Registration deadline.
• 11 March 2027: Secretariat aims to make meeting documents available in the three languages.
• 10 April 2027: Signatories’ comments on proposed amendments to the MOU or its Annexes.
• Information documents may be submitted at any time, but no later than one week before the meeting

Registration: Participants are invited to register by 10 February 2027 using the online meeting registration form. Delegates of Signatories eligible for financial support are strongly encouraged to register by this deadline to allow the Secretariat sufficient time to make the necessary travel and logistical arrangements. As meeting-room capacity is limited, the Secretariat may need to limit the number of delegates from each participating delegation or organization.

Listing proposals: Proposals to include additional species in Annex 1 should be prepared using the Format for Proposals to Amend Annex 1 of the MOU. Completed proposals, including the reasons for the proposed amendment and the best scientific evidence available, must be submitted to the Secretariat by 11 December 2026, in accordance with the 150-day submission requirement.

National reports: Signatories are requested to submit their completed National Reports to the Secretariat by 10 January 2027 to allow sufficient time for analysis, translation, and timely publication ahead of MOS5. The National Reporting Format is available in English, French, and Spanish.  Signatories are requested to complete both the National Reporting Format and the corresponding Signatory-specific Excel sheet. Both documents should be downloaded and completed offline. The Excel sheets have been prepared specifically for each Signatory. The completed Word template and corresponding Excel sheet should be submitted together to the Secretariat ([email protected]) by 10 January 2027.

Credentials: To be eligible to take an active part in the meeting, representatives of Signatories must provide credentials signed by either the Head of State, Head of Government, Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister or Deputy of the focal Ministry/Authority for the MOU or their designee, or the competent authority of any regional economic integration organization (REIO). These credentials should enable them to fully participate and represent their governments, including adopting amendments to the MOU and its Appendices. Signatories may wish to use the sample letter of credentials available under "Templates" as a model.

Funded delegates: Signatories seeking funding for their representatives are requested to upload their credentials documentation to the Secretariat in advance ([email protected]).  All Signatories are encouraged to submit copies of their credentials to the Secretariat before the meeting to allow for efficient processing. Originals must be brought to the meeting. The Secretariat aims to support the maximum participation of Signatories in the Meeting. According to applicable UN rules, resources are available to support the participation of one official representative from each eligible country. Requests for assistance should be indicated on the pre-registration form. Travel support for eligible countries will be subject to timely registration and the submission of valid credentials.

Meeting documents, practical information and updates will be made available on this website as preparations progress.